2003 Import & Truck Bash - Custom Truck Show

Indiana Home Away From Home

The show that we'll always remember as the Indy Truck Bash (renamed the Import & Truck Bash) has truly evolved over the years. The event was started 10 years ago by Latest Craze and has become one of the top custom vehicle shows in the Midwest. Special Events now runs the event, but the show hasn't lost its personal touch. Falken Tires hosted this year's show, with help from Flow Master, Summit Racing, Cargo Express, and many other vendors. The show took place August 15-17 at the world-famous Indianapolis Raceway Park. With a campground area right across the street, there was plenty of room for the locals as well as all the out-of-town visitors. Every single year this show pushes the limits, yet the town's atmosphere couldn't be friendlier.

Part of our routine is to attend the Indy Truck Bash, and year after year we consistently encounter sweet feature and cover vehicles. We also love the atmosphere and the people we get to hang out and party with. This year, one of our editors had the pleasure of being introduced to the wonderful world of Indy and its inhabitants. Naturally, he couldn't stop smiling the entire weekend. We'll share some of the things he encountered for the first time that made this trip so memorable.

We arrived at our hotel Thursday night and passed out so we could rest up for the weekend's events. Friday morning, we headed to the showgrounds and made our way through the traffic to the gates. Once inside, our new editor looked around and pinched himself to make sure he wasn't dreaming. A kid in a candy store, he saw many of the sweet rides he'd always admired but had never actually seen in person. It was only Friday morning and already the show was bigger than any he'd ever been to. After he got a grip on things, we cruised the entire show to scope things out and see what we had to look forward to. We noticed a foam pit as we cruised the grounds, complete with guys and girls duking it out for the Foam Pit crown. We checked the schedule Family Events had provided to see what time the other events were happening. Some of the baddest hoppers and dancers worked the cash-prize hydraulic competition. A burnout contest, the ever-popular Ms. ITB bikini competition, drag racing, and a highest/lowest competition were just few of the other events dazzling showgoers. Show cruising was at a standstill the first day, making it rather hard for the drive-through judging, and for most of us to get around the showgrounds. Otherwise, Friday was a blast.

ITB is always chock full of enthusiasts and vehicles, including mini-trucks and imports, all gathered together to show pride in their ride. There's far too much to see in one day, and that's why the show lasts all weekend long. After wrapping things up on Friday, we caught some more Zs so we could get an early start. Bright and early Saturday morning, we immersed ourselves into the task at hand: Photographing some of the lowest and phattest vehicles in the country, such as Dustin Haven's Suicidal Toy and Eric Stiles' Two Face Ranger. Our new guy was happy to meet them, along with many other cool people who have contributed to the mini-truckin' and show scenes for years. We really enjoyed hanging with "Fuzzy" and the guys from Pebble Pushers, and Clyde Bynum from Silver Star Customs. Donnie Barb and the crew from Gauge, and John Wargo from The Custom Shop were all enjoyable company. After all the mingling was over, it was time to get back to work. Who are we kidding? It's not really work; just pure, unadulterated fun. We shot our features in the afternoon, then planned for a night on the town.

We weren't quite ready to go home when Sunday morning rolled around and we headed back to the showgrounds to check out the last of the fine rides and wrap up loose ends. We said our "nice to meet yous" and goodbyes, and jetted before the trophies were handed out. We did, however, make sure to pick the Editor's Choice Award for Mini Truckin'. We chose Carl Peter's red big-block Pro Street Blazer, a badass example of a dope, pro-street mini.

ITB brought out cool people and awesome vehicles, and was an amazing experience our new MT Associate Editor won't soon forget. Plan on attending next year because it just keeps getting bigger and better. The show's continued success is due to the dedicated people who come out to have a good time and support our scene. For more information on upcoming events, contact: ITB/Special Events, (317) 236-6522, www.importandtruckbash.com, www.familyevents.com.